The Coffee Shop (a place to chat) Est. 2004

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

John:

QUOTE: but, if you put a toe end of one of Mrs. T's stockings in the vacuum cleaner nozzle, you can catch those bits

Ooohh, that’s a good one. Yup, can definitely use that tip. Thanks.

You are entirely welcome. It's not original with me, but I've used it (or rather Mrs.der's ) with good effect for some time. I thought that perhaps it had been in 764 Helpful hints for model railroaders, but a quick skim didn't turn it up.

QUOTE: would they be green stamps?Don’t tell me you’re old enough to remember those???

Yup, licked a few in my time. The ones I'm talking about were grocery store (I think) promotion stamps in Ontario in the late 60s. Nothing to do with government programs.

QUOTE: Trying to remember my Alberta geography, where’s Spruce Grove? Up near Edmonton?

About 25 kms west of Edmonton on the Highway 16 (or 16X, depending). Now why would you remember that?

QUOTE: Want to narrow that Lake Huron reference down a bit. We lived in Tobermory for a few years in the late 70sDoes Sarnia count? I lived there in ’71-’72. Talk about one cold sucker in the winter when the wind came down off the lake!!!

Ah! bliss...Sarnia, all the carcinogens you can breathe, plus summer humidity and smog, and the aforementioned winter wind[xx(]

Truro again today. Saw the cars, but not the loco ( [B)] ) of the new VIA Rail. Now, a set of those in N would be just lovely. Bit out of reach right now, but one can dream[|)] [|)] [8D]

Invited to dinner tonight, so had better get ready.
As Dixon of Dock Green (Old Brit TV reference) was wont to say "Evening All".
I may get back the the shop later, we'll see.

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

Try Wednesday! I just pulled into Dartmouth this afternoon and will in for the next day or two then heading up the Eastern Shore again. I asked to have crew change in Sheet Harbour. BTW John I anchored off your back door last night but as I didn't see anyone wave this morning I figured you were either in the bunk still or in the wreck room!

So those were your lights I saw from the passage road on my way back from a meeting about 8:30 last night[?]

Hope you had a good trip.
Regards, John.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Howdy folks. Just had to stop in, grab a piece of pie and go again. Oh and Ed, I'll check on that layout at a glance thread, I missed it so far.

Noah

[egmurphy]

Afternoon all,

Cocktail time here S.O.B. So let me just jot down a few responses while I relax with a nice tasty Cuba Libre.

Yup, Noah, you can sure tell you're back in school. Looks like the teachers are giving you plenty to keep you occupied.

John, the stamps I was referring to were S&H Green Stamps. Got them at groceries and other misc stores based on the amount of your purchase. You pasted them in a small book, and saved up the books to exchange for gifts. Kind of like an early frequent flier program. There were also Triple-H Blue Stamps, iirc.

Most of what I remember about Alberta geography I learned during the five years I spent working there. Two down in "The Hat" back in the mid 70's, and three up in Ft Mac in the late 80's. Even got to ride the famous "Muskeg Mixed" on the NAR (Northern Alberta Railway for all you who don't know it).

The Sarnia stay was another project, right in the middle of the Imperial Oil Refinery.

I think I mentioned way back on about page 15 of the thread that I was actually born in Nfld, but I think that's before you were a regular here. Got a framed picture (reproduction) of the "Newfie Bullet" hanging around here somewhere looking for a spot of honor on the wall. [:D]

Okay, back to sleep.

Later

Ed

[Junctionfan]

What is a "newfie bullet:? Is it a train that goes backwards when the engineer puts the throttle forwards?

[egmurphy]

Nope, but close. It's more likely "Faster than a speeding Dory".........


Is it still PC to tell Newfie jokes these days?

Ed

[Junctionfan]

Don't care if it isn't. Still funny.

How do you sink a newfie submarine? Knock on the door.

[egmurphy]

Okay, but you started it........my all time favorite Newfie joke. You've got to be old enough to know who Joey Smallwood was to really appreciate this one.

A Newfie lady turns 100 years old. A grand event.

The Queen sends her a telegram of congratulations.

The Prime Minister sends her a telegram of congratulations.

Joey Smallwood (Premier of Nfld a looonnngggg time ago), not to be outdone, goes to congratulate her in person. Not being one to miss a publicity opportunity, he brings along the TV cameras. So he's talking to her in front of the cameras and the conversation goes;

JS: Congratulations, Mrs Murphy, on turning 100 years old. And to what do you attribute your long life?

Mrs M: Well, you know Joey, I takes a wee drag on me pipe now and then. And I takes a wee nip of the bottle now and then.

JS: Amazing. Tell me, in your long life, have you ever been sick.

Mrs M: No, Joey, not a day in me life!

JS: (turning to the cameras) Imagine that folks, 100 years old and she's never been bedridden!!

Mrs M: Oh Lord Tunderin Jesus yes, Joey, tousands and tousands of times, and tree times in a Dory!!!


It's been years since I first heard that one and I still smile at it. It may lose something in translation for those south of the border.

Regards

Ed

[Anonymous]

Ed:

Where's the ugly? If converting to N as it's good and bad sides, it should have it's ugly ones too.[:D][;)] I hope that by the time I get an N scale layout completed as far as wiring and trackwork, Atlas and Spectrum come out with a few really good steamers...

Well I'm ready for HUNTIN' SEASON to begin!!!! Right now in Illinois it's only dove season, it might still be squirrel season but the latter ends sometime this month, and I don't shoot doves. Don't care for deer hunting either because there's a lot of stupid people out there-my neighbor stopped deer hunting because he almost got shot once, I think.[:O] As for rabbit and turkey though,(only turkey season's in the spring) and maybe next summmer squirrel....

And watch either P2K or BLI come out with a few steamers from the CB&Q, NP, or GN now that I have to go to N. (!!!!!!)

[Junctionfan]

That is funny-I like that one.

[tomwatkins]

Good Evening Everybody,
The sun shine in the mountains today, and it was a beautiful day. No railroading got done, but I'm getting closer to getting back to it. I did get the rest of the mess in the front yard cleaned up today. All the brush is hauled down to the burn pile, the firewood logs are stacked and ready to be chopped, and I got the grass reseeded where it got torn up. That constituted a good day's work. Shawna's room is ready to have everything moved back into it. It was a major project, but it really looks good. We'll get everything moved back in over the weekend. Then it will be time for the railroad. Yeah!

Teffy, I also use 2 1/4" spacing between tracks. It's way bigger than prototypical, but my hands fit. Trying to rerail one car and derailing several isn't fun. Fortunately that's one of John Armstrong's recommendations that I didn't ignore.

Ed, I really like that joke. It's a good one.

Krump, I'm very sorry about the loss of your friend. From what you said, it was clear that he was a special friend to you and a lot of other people.

It looks like Ivan truly is terrible. Grenada got clobbered today and Jamaica is right in it's way. It's really too soon to predict accurately which way it will go, but it's a bad one. The weather channel will be on a lot for the few days. Take care everybody.

Hope everybody has a great evening,
Tom

[Anonymous]

Good Evening All:

Krump:
I am truly saddened to hear about the passing of your freind, It sounds like you and he were very close.


I've had more to do then I can shake a stick at. I spent this afternoon changing the brake pads on the front axle and tomorrow I've got to do the rear axle. Then I get to replace the tank bolts on the toilet.


Ed:
When I lay track, you already know about the laying and then comming back and doing it permently. After I've got quite a bit laid I break out the Krylon brown and spray the side of the rails from a low angle. After that I spray straight down with Krylon flat black, then wipe the tops of the rails with a thinner soaked rag. Be sure and have the windows open as you're going to get a buzz if you don't. As long as two - three weeks later I put ballast only between the rails. By doing only between the rails I don't have to worry about messing up the ballast when putting the scenery down. I ballast outside the rails after the scenery is in place but maybe not painted. It sure was nice to be able to run my locos all over the yard, I even got the feeder track to the turntable laid about 4". I can't get to far as I want to cut the circle first. I still don't know what brand I'm going to use.

John:
WE WILL HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT YOUR VIDEO. Since Mrs "T" had the stroke I've horded her old panty hose to use as a vacuum screen.

Fla Phil:
They just put the forcast chart on the weather channel and I can't believe that Fla is a possible target again. From talking to a friend at the power company headquarters THEY think it's going into the Fla panhandle or Alabama. They are already getting the trucks ready to roll with transformers, wire and all the poles in the storage yards. I'm sweating this huricane because it is so big and so strong. If it goes into Alabama we'll get a lot of rain.

Bill:
Are you going to have an around the wall layout? If so I've got some good ideas as to how to do the framework. I use Lynn Westcotts idea on shelf construction with the knee brace. It gives good support and is out of the way. I painted all of the supports flat black so they don't stand out.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[Anonymous]

Ed:

I'm probably waaaayyyy too young to even know why the heck that joke is supposed to be funny.

And the more I think about N scale the less I like it. The roof fell in on that idea so to speak once I realized how poor N scale steam is-so I've said to heck with it I don't care how little space I have, I'll take that Horribly Oversized scale over N!!!!! There's just too much transition era stuff available in HO that just ain't there in N. So now it's a decision of trying to sqeeze a 4x8 into a small room in a hall, or temporarliy replacing it with "HOTrak" modules. I'll jst have to put away my 50' cars, and anything larger than a 2-8-0 in steam or a GP-7 in diesel until I have a nice, HUGE basement to put them in, and start running 0-6-0s, 0-8-0s, Balwdwin and Alco switchers, centercabs, and maybe even a few "slugs" or "critters".

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjm89

Ed:

And the more I think about N scale the less I like it. The roof fell in on that idea so to speak once I realized how poor N scale steam is-so I've said to heck with it I don't care how little space I have, I'll take that Horribly Oversized scale over N!!!!! There's just too much transition era stuff available in HO that just ain't there in N. So now it's a decision of trying to sqeeze a 4x8 into a small room in a hall, or temporarliy replacing it with "HOTrak" modules. I'll jst have to put away my 50' cars, and anything larger than a 2-8-0 in steam or a GP-7 in diesel until I have a nice, HUGE basement to put them in, and start running 0-6-0s, 0-8-0s, Balwdwin and Alco switchers, centercabs, and maybe even a few "slugs" or "critters".

Now don't get to far down on "N"ormal as it has its place. If you can get enough space to build a 5'X9' it'll give you a much bigger radius. Think about mounting your layout on a pully system in the garage and store it over the car. That was how my first layout started. Later on dad parked his car outside and we took over his half of the garage.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[egmurphy]

Evening all,

Chris, don't worry about the joke. It's a Canuck thing. Wow, that was a fast turnaround!! In your post at 7:20 you were talking about your future N scale layout, and by 8:05 "The roof fell in on that idea..." I know what you mean about N scale steam seklection, especially vs the huge amount available in HO. Fortunately for those of us in N the selection has greatly increased over the past couple of years. We now have several very good operating locos, including Spectrum's 2-8-0, MDC's 2-8-0 and 2-6-0, Kato's heavy Mikado, and some bigger stuff that doesn't attract me.

Bob - wasn't actually planning on painting the track, but I have been thinking about it. Flat Krylon Brown or is it a primer? My selection of rattle can paints down here is a bit limited. (Although I've found the new Rust-Oleum Camouflage Green does a nice job as a near express car green). Don't worry about painting inside and ventilating. I can carry the whole shebang outside and spray there in the open!!!

I think it's time to get busy on a control panel so I can wire up the block feeders and run more than a few feet at a time.

I admire your energy Tom. It makes me tired just reading about all your projects!

Okay sports fans - Speaking of which, it's time for THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL! First game of the new NFL season!!! Yippie!! And we actually get the game down here (okay, the play by play is in Spanish, but at least we get the game). Gotta run.

Hasta Mañana,

Ed

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by philnrunt

krump- I'm sorry for your loss, from your description he sounds like a decent man. I lost my brother to lung cancer in '98, when he was 47. We had a years notice, but of course, it never is enough time.

krump: Sorry for your loss, and for his family. I've emailed you about this.

QUOTE: Now , i am getting ready to give my trailer a bleach wa***o get the algae, mold and mildew off of it.

We did the north sideof our house with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and bleach. Works a treat on the vinyl siding, but we wore our rain slicks, and rubber gloves and goggles[}:)] Duck taped a car cleaning brush onto one of those expandable poles and scrubbed down after an initial blast with the power washer. Getting that washer up onto the roof of my mother-in-law's bedroom in order to reach the top left hand corner of the wall was an experience [8D]

Bob:

QUOTE: John:
WE WILL HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT YOUR VIDEO.

Great, I found a bit that shows the S curve tressle on a grade that I had in Campbell River BC. (That's the one from which I re-used bents for the Athabasaca and Western)
By the way Free Lance Fans, beware the "Cute Name" Trap. Athabasca is a Western Canadian name. I had moved to Alberta and was setting up a new layout. The Athabasca and Western struck me as cute since A&W is a fast food chain whose ads feature a bear, and whose major beverage is Root Beer. So I had "A&W, the Route of the Bears!" and my herald was about the same as the A&W logo.
Cute eh? Now, come to letter the locos and stock for that road. You run out of As on a sheet of decals really fast[V]

Ed

QUOTE: John, the stamps I was referring to were S&H Green Stamps. Got them at groceries and other misc stores based on the amount of your purchase. You pasted them in a small book, and saved up the books to exchange for gifts. Kind of like an early frequent flier program. There were also Triple-H Blue Stamps, iirc.

Yes indeed those are the ones. Mrs. der tells me that we started to collect them in the UK before we emigrated in 1967. I have no memory of that , but I know we collected them in Toronto, at grocery stores. S&H? could have been.

QUOTE: Most of what I remember about Alberta geography I learned during the five years I spent working there. Two down in "The Hat" back in the mid 70's, and three up in Ft Mac in the late 80's. Even got to ride the famous "Muskeg Mixed" on the NAR (Northern Alberta Railway for all you who don't know it).I think I mentioned way back on about page 15 of the thread that I was actually born in Nfld, but I think that's before you were a regular here. Got a framed picture (reproduction) of the "Newfie Bullet" hanging around here somewhere looking for a spot of honor on the wall.

Ah! Explains much, thanks. I've only been to the Rock once, Christmas of 70. Fogo Island. Never been so cold before or since.[:0]
Walked some of the old NAR tracks one time. Must see if I can find my photo of a really twisted tie from that line. I think some of my date nails are from there too.

Dinner was excellent, BTW, with a couple from New Hampshire who bought the next house down the road from us, and our hosts were the folks from whom they bought it.

BTW, Fergie, we're on Mozier Cove, so if that was you anchored off the Passage Road, you wouldn't have seen us as we're on the east side of Sober Island[:D]

'Night All, god Bless.

[stokesda]

I just wanted to share my latest adventure. I recently bought a old, used Bachmann ATSF 4-8-4 on eBay. I was very excited when it arrived in the mail on Monday - until I opened the box. The loco was in pretty bad shape. There were several broken/missing pieces (more than the one the seller pointed out), there was dust and crud in every recess and nook and cranny, and the whole thing reeked of cigarette smoke.

I thought about sending a nasty gram to the seller to express my displeasure, as this is not what was advertised. However, the auction text was pretty minimal (one line), the auction photo was horrible, and I did get a pretty good deal on it. Also, the thing runs and the headlight works. So, I figured I didn't have a very solid argument and decided to put the nasty gram on the back burner for a while.

In the meantime, I've been making some small repairs - realigning crooked pieces, re-gluing broken ones, etc. Today I figured out how to separate the chassis from the shell, so I gave the shell and the tender a good bath in the sink. After the bath, I was very pleased at how they looked (and smelled). I also started thinking about ways I could make some upgrades by adding electrical pickup to the otherwise unemployed tender wheels, upgrading the headlight, etc. If possible and not too expensive, I'd like to upgrade the motor to one with MORE POWER! (insert Tim Allen grunting noise here) I've got a small laundry list of detail parts and stuff to look for the next time I got to my LHS. (Now I have a mission the next time I go, instead of "just looking" and buying another Blue Box kit.)

After all, I'm surprised at how much I've "fallen in love" with this loco the more I work on it. I guess it's kind of like restoring an old beat up car in your garage. I'm much more happy with it today than I was two days ago.

Still not sure what to do about the eBay seller, though. I probably should tell them I'm not happy, but not sure that leaving negative feedback is a good thing. Maybe I should just forget them and not leave any feedback.

Well, that's all for now. Till' next time.

Cheers,

[krump]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and sentiments. I appreciate it, and it is nice to know that the commaradarie among the Forum and the local club(s) is similar. Thanks again.

cheers

[Anonymous]

Krump- I'm sorry to hear of you loss.My thoughts are with you in these hard times.

stokesda-Welcome to the forums if you haven't already been welcomed. Most of my favorite peices are not the best looking ones but the ones I had to work on more. It gives a story behind the car that is real,not one you have to make up.

as most of you know my B-day was last week, welI finally got my B-day present today. My 2 6- packs of gondolas came in and I couldn't be happier. I'm 29 cars to reaching my goal of having 100 cars(my guess as to how many cars my line needs to run at max). Anyways I stated that my LHS was thinking about giving me a job well he decided he couldn't afford so i must look for another job[:(] .....Sorry I had to do that. I got the job!! i'm going in next week to "train"(no pun intended). Then after that I will start working. sorry if the typing is bad my Keyboard is not being nice.
Stay safe
Andrew

[krump]

who moved my coffee?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump

who moved my coffee?

I know what you mean. I SWEAR the dog drinks mine of a morning. I just don't understand how I fill it up one minute only to have it disappear the next. Honestly the cup does not have a hole in it, so where does it go?

[philnrunt]

I thought I checked in on the Shop last night, but either I didn't or you guys are posting alot faster than you used to. Or maybe I'm just getting s l o w e r.
Ed, After thinking about it, I really don't have one favorite logo or RR, as they are ....who am I kidding, SP dirty grey with that weathered bloody nose was always the epitome of a hard working RR, with no time or inclination to wa***hem. The worse they looked, the better I liked them. You could tell they earned their keep.When I started in N, most of my locos ended up being mud brown with all of the weathering I glopped on them. It must have something to do with my other hobby, four wheeling. I gots to have da mud!
Fergie- glad to have you back in our hemisphere, you know we all worry about you out there on the deep six.
It looks like the entire eastern half of the country is getting the "benefits" of the 'canes hitting Fla, but we have it easy compared to our Gator friends. I need to get back down and see Key West, before it comes sees me. Is that good grammar?
Happy belated B-day Andrew, sorry about the LHS job, but keep your hat in the ring. Maybe something will open up.
stokesda- My turn to say Hi, and welcome. Most of the engines I really like are the ones that no one else would have. Everytime I see some lonely old beat up engine at a swap meet, I always think of the Island of Lost Toys from Rudolph the R.N. R'deer, and so I bring them home to try to restore their sense of self worth. When, 4 years later I find them again in the box in the back in the dark, I wonder where they came from. It's like C-mas all over again!
Noah- I picked up some of that paint, but used it on a yard cart that needed that special WSOR TC treatment. We'll get more, tho.
Keep a good thought!

[Fergmiester]

Good Morning All

John: As I said yesterday I'm shooting for Sheet arbour again next week and if I was a betting man I would say I have a 50% chance of making it. If you see us tied up before noon on Wednesday come down and see me. And as for Fogo well now there's a scary spot! I did a survey last year up there, something akin to the Mars landing rocks everywhere! and the charts were last surveyed in the 1850's.

Philnrunt: Thankyou for your concerns but I'm fortunate enough to be on one of our larger vessels right now, she's 83 metres (280') and a fine sea boat. Though Iwouldn't want to see myself in Frances or Ivan on anything for that matter.

I spent the last week in Mulgrave, which was the site for the old Intercolonial Railway's (Pre CN) rail ferry "Scotia" 's dock. Unfortunately the rail is gone and all that remains is the rail bed. I have to admit I took full advantage of it with the mountain bike. The incline to the dock must have been at least 5%. I would be interested in obtaining more info on this.

Anyway time to work

Regards
Fergie

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump

who moved my coffee?

I know what you mean. I SWEAR the dog drinks mine of a morning. I just don't understand how I fill it up one minute only to have it disappear the next. Honestly the cup does not have a hole in it, so where does it go?

Jim:
If your cup doesn't have a hole in it how do you get the coffee in it? I really think that the aliens come in and sip my tea. They will sometimes hide my cup by moving it across the room or behind the paper.

Stokesda:
[#welcome] As someone posted earlier the coffee shop is open 24/7 you just have to be your own waiter.

Ed:
You should be way ahead of me this week as all I've gotten to do is solder some wires together and get the yard all powered up. I think it's about time to start working on the top loop and the town up there as I've got most of the structures built. I use a lot of Suydam buildings and others that are about the same size since I've got a small layout. As nice as the Walthers buildings are, many of their buildings are to big for my layout.

I need to get the control panel for the throat done so I don't have to throw the tortises by hand. But as stated earlier I just can't make up my mind on the size DPDT's to get. I've got one size in use on one staging yard and the other size on the other staging yard don't really have a preferance.

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY

John:
When we get there would you show me how you did those multipull (SP)quotes?

Why waste visit time when we can waste it right away! click on the quote icon. In the new message field that generates, keep the top line that begins with the Forum Code for quote. Delete all the post up to the bit you want to quote. At the end of that part, type the close quote code. Then move on, deleteing up to t he next bit you want to quote. Now you have to tpye in the begin quote code, and finish with the end quote code

QUOTE: You are my type mathamtician - time for tea

add your comments: Never could figure math out at school, was afraid to ask questions.[V]
on to the next quote, type in the begin code, followed by the bit you want to quote, and finish wirth the end quote code

QUOTE:
Santa Fe also used rail for pilots on the steamers at rebuild time.

Yes the article mentioned that.
then delete all rrest of the text you don't want to deal with

Don't forget that any smilies you put in are added to the very end of the text, and have to be cut and pasted where you wanted them. Told you it wasted time
[(-D]
Got to go. Regards,

You're right it's a waste of time, but at least I now know how to do it. If I don't forget I'll be doing good. What makes it bad is I can't see what's been done utill it's posted and then it's too late.

Fergie:
What's the chance of you being in port the night that I'm there. I can let you know what day I'll be their a little later.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[egmurphy]

Morning all you Coffee Clubbers,

Speaking of 'Coffee Clubbers', any of you guys remember the old 'Don McNeill Coffee Club' on the radio back in the early 50's?

Bob:

QUOTE: What makes it bad is I can't see what's been done utill it's posted and then it's too late.

Hit the 'Preview Reply' first, you can see the actual looks of the post. If you need to change things just close that window and you're back in the reply. You can edit and preview as often as you want before hitting the 'Submit Reply' button when you're finally satisfied.

Building your structures, huh? Sounds like sandbagging to me. You'll fini***he upper loop, slap down all your completed structures and be way ahead while I'm just figuring out what a fruit shipping warehouse ought to look like. [:)]

QUOTE: I need to get the control panel for the throat done so I don't have to throw the tortises by hand.

Right now all my switches are regular Atlas manual ones with the huge ugly box for the manual throw. I plan to keep the manual throw idea (when you have a small layout you've got to do something to keep busy) but will probably look at changing them out for some of the ground throws by Caboose Industries.

Lt Dan,

QUOTE: However, the auction text was pretty minimal (one line), the auction photo was horrible, and I did get a pretty good deal on it. Also, the thing runs and the headlight works. So, I figured I didn't have a very solid argument ..

I think you need to just chalk that one up to experience. Probably not worth fighting over, especially if you bit on a one line ad with a bad photo. But I see you're looking on the positive side with the idea of customizing/restoring it. That can be a fun project, especially if you're starting with a loco that you didn't pay too much for. That way you're less likely to be nervous about cutting on it.

Sometimes ebay is like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you're going to get. [:D]

Boulder, CO, huh? Nice country. I'm envious.

Andrew, great news about the job. Wonderful opportunity, enjoy. So, you need about 100 cars to run your line at max. Guess you can expect to be way past 200 before you start thinking you better cut back on purchases. Most people start small thinking they'll just get what they need, wrong. It's like a disease. There's always one more pretty car calling to you..."Buy me, buy me!"

QUOTE: I need to get back down and see Key West, before it comes sees me.

Or before it washes away!!!


It's been overcast with some showers down here for the past couple of days, and more of the same forcasted for the next few days. I'm actually happy about that as it helps knock down the heat a bit.

Got the morning constitutional in with the dogs. Now for another cup of coffee and back to the layout.

Later,

Ed

[AntonioFP45]

Hello friends,

Just a quick check in. As soon as I get off the job I'm going to get some more plywood to board up my windows.

Looks like Ivan continues to change, but so far the lastest tracks have put this "thing" in the Tampa Bay area's direction. Since it continues to "wobble" it's difficult for the Weather professional's to pinpoint an exact path. My hats off to them though.

Hope you all are doing o.k.

As for the polls: I've found some helpful. Some not. I hope that the ones I've posted in the past were either helpful or interesting to you all.

Guys, just one thing if you don't mind regarding the "Polls" topic.

Obviously some of the polls are not "put together well" by the poster. A number of these polls are coming from some of our pre-teen and teen members. I suggest that even if certain polls irritate us, don't reply to these guys in a discouraging tone. It is possible to offer good criticism "without cutting someone to pieces" as this only breeds resentment. I've read where some of you have tried to nurture while some have "whipped out the blowtorch" and start cutting.

Let's remember that these young folks are the future of our hobby. If you see a poorly put-together poll that absolutely "turns you off" and you think it borders on "useless", consider helping that person instead of flaming or ignoring. This might help slice down on the number of redundant polls.

Cheers!

[der5997]

Bob: Must be nice to know what your are doing with auto repairs. The brakes went on the van today (line to the passenger side front) I'm booked in for 2:00 p.m. Monday for the necessary. In the mean time, we're grounded[V]

stokesda:

QUOTE: Still not sure what to do about the eBay seller, though. I probably should tell them I'm not happy, but not sure that leaving negative feedback is a good thing. Maybe I should just forget them and not leave any feedback.

Why not send the seller what you posted here? It's polite, to the point, and catches your feeling too.

krump: jhh: TEFFY:

QUOTE: who moved my coffee? I know what you mean. I SWEAR the dog drinks mine of a morning. I just don't understand how I fill it up one minute only to have it disappear the next. Honestly the cup does not have a hole in it, so where does it go? I really think that the aliens come in and sip my tea. They will sometimes hide my cup by moving it across the room or behind the paper.

Didn't you read/see "The Borrowers"? They moved my largest small screwdriver from the workbench, used it for whatever for three weeks, and two days ago dumped it into an old plaster of paris container in which I'm storing sawdust for when I next do some scenery. The're generally benign, or so it's said. Alien? The jury is still out on that[alien]

Ed:

QUOTE: Right now all my switches are regular Atlas manual ones with the huge ugly box for the manual throw. I plan to keep the manual throw idea (when you have a small layout you've got to do something to keep busy) but will probably look at changing them out for some of the ground throws by Caboose Industries.

That's what I did for the unpowered turnouts on the A&W. If you are careful you can rig up contacts too[8D]
The MT has one Caboose Industries ground throw, on a Peco turnout on the fiddle yard that lacked a spring.

Fergie:

QUOTE: As I said yesterday I'm shooting for Sheet arbour again next week and if I was a betting man I would say I have a 50% chance of making it. If you see us tied up before noon on Wednesday come down and see me.

Sounds good, so long as we're mobile[:D] and they let us on the dock (haven't had trouble so far, and the NFTI manager is an aquaintance.) If I need it, what's your rank?

When we visited Fogo there were perhaps 5000 people in little outports around the shore. No passable roads inland. They consolidated the protestant schools for a new High School. Guess where they built it? Slap dab in the middle[:p]

May drop by again this evening, but other mail, and some more frame milling call.

[krump]

John, I sent you an email.

My day off, Jr's taking a nap, gals won't be home for a few hrs, so filler up. Back on the Mocha.

cheers,

[Noah Hofrichter]

Ed, your right, have been a little swamped lately. It's the weekend though, so I got plenty of time today.

Chris, You've seen the light!! I've been following your story interestedly, wondering what the outcome would be, and let me say, you made the right choice! To me N is so small, and there are so few good engines avalible for it, that to me HO is the only way to go. I'd never had been able to scratchbuild the TC in that scale, I don't know how some of those people do it.

Me? I think I'll go grab a pice of pie and a capuccino, need to relax a little bit. Been going alot this last week, got to slow the pace a little. Let myself go out to lunch recess for the first time so far this year, up till now I'd been using it as a study hall just before lunch. Anyway, on the world of trains, I'm heading to the local NMRA division meet on Sunday. It's free to the public, so I at least want to check it out. It's a once a month thing, and from what I understand there's usually a few vendors there and one or two layouts. Also wrestling with the though of joining the NMRA. There's a new hobby shop opening in Madison, and there going to be giving twenty percent discounts to NMRA members. I figure if I buy $200.00 worth of stuff from them over the next year, it would pay for my membership, and I'd get the regional and national newsletter, basically for free then. I pretty sure I want to do it, but I want to check the store out first though, haven't had a chance to do that yet, as it opened only a few weeks ago. Any body here got any thought's on NMRA membership?

Well, 'spose I better be a mosing on along then, as I got to check out the other few of these here forums.[C):-)][;)]

Noah

[Anonymous]

HA Ed, supporters!!!!! The Q in HO is back, downsized for the moment, but back!!!
Besides, I love models with ALL handrails separate-plus actuaaly being able to read even the measurment data without a magnifying glas in sight.

"When modeling the transition era-you have many choices of scales-so long as it's HO!!" (For the folks on here that ain't blue oval fans, that's a little play off a quote about the original Model T- "You can have any color, so long as it's black.")